TOKYO — Toyota is teasing new ideas in Japan, together with a modern Toyota GT3 racer, that might foreshadow a brand new street automotive, a rugged plug-in hybrid Lexus NX crossover, a hydrogen-powered leisure buggy from Lexus and a sporty GRMN Yaris scorching hatchback.
The GR GT3 Idea, maybe essentially the most intriguing of the bunch, will debut as a working prototype later this 12 months, Gazoo Racing President Koji Sato mentioned. Toyota will enter the automotive in world GT3 sequence, which means that the automotive must be based mostly on a mass manufacturing mannequin.
Sato and Toyota President Akio Toyoda unveiled the vehicles on Friday in a web based presentation for the Tokyo Auto Salon, an annual personalized automotive present that is still fashionable amongst automotive followers regardless of the decline of conventional auto reveals.
The executives engaged in informal automotive discuss on a stage arrange like racing storage, replete with an assortment of spare elements and oil cans strewn about.
The black GR GT3 Idea, with its lengthy hood, pointed nostril and raked rear finish, resembles nothing presently within the Toyota or Lexus lineup. However the strains hark again to the fourth-generation A80 Toyota Supra or maybe channels the silhouette of the Toyota 2000GT and even Lexus LFA.
Sato famous that GT3 vehicles compete in 24-hour races at Nurburgring and Le Mans, providing a peek at Gazoo Racing’s intentions for upcoming motorsports seasons.
Gazoo Racing presently deploys a GT3 race automotive based mostly on the Lexus RC F.
“The primary order was to develop a automotive that may win races,” Sato mentioned.
Toyota additionally debuted a “fully-tuned” GRMN model of its Yaris efficiency hatchback. Tailor-made to racing specs, the 268-hp, 1.6-liter three-cylinder GRMN Yaris will begin at 7.32 million yen ($64,000) and prime out at 8.47 million yen ($74,000) for the absolutely loaded “Circuit Bundle.”
Deliveries, in Japan solely, are anticipated to start this summer season, Toyota mentioned.
Additionally, on stage for Toyota was a bZ4X GR Sport Idea, a tricked-out model of Toyota’s upcoming bZ4X all-electric crossover with huge tires, sports activities seats and moody physique paneling.
On the Lexus premium aspect, Japan’s prime auto producer confirmed off the NX PHEV Offroad Idea, a beefed-up model of the plug-in variant that went on sale in November.
Lexus additionally floated an ROV Idea, quick for Leisure Off freeway Automobile. This two-seat buggy-style off-roader will get a hydrogen-burning 1.0-liter, three-cylinder engine with selectable four-wheel drive. It’s the first Lexus to be outfitted with the expertise, as Toyota Motor Corp. pitches hydrogen combustion in its place path towards zero emissions objectives.
Each Lexus autos had been displayed in an “iron oxide” physique colour reflecting the subtle copper hues which can be presently all-the-rage in some design quarters.
Automotive man President Toyoda closed his Tokyo Auto Salon information briefing by speaking some trash to rival Nissan Motor Co., scheduled to current later within the day on its upcoming Z sports activities automotive.
“All you at Nissan, we are going to by no means lose to your Z!” Toyoda mentioned with a chuckle. “Are you listening!?”
The Toyota Auto Salon media day was Jan. 14; it opens to the general public Jan. 15-16.